OTISFIELD – Volunteer firefighters gathered at the Spurrs Corner Fire Station to thank a comrade and enjoy a picnic lunch Sunday afternoon.
They carried in hot pots, cool salads, bags of chips, pushed strollers and toted children. After appetites were satisfied, Fire Chief Garry Dyer informed the crowd they were gathered to thank a firefighter.
“This year has been a real success for him,” Dyer said referring to Steve Coombs. “He graduated from Southern Maine to do firefighting. He’s living his dream – being a firefighter.”
As part of his college curriculum, Coombs wrote a FEMA grant for the Otisfield Fire Department. He wrote the grant while doing his practical at the Gorham Fire Department.
The grant was awarded to the Otisfield Department this summer and was used to purchase turnout gear, the clothing firefighters wear while fighting fires. Funds were also used to purchase radios and a positive pressure fan.
The fan blows air into a building to vent smoke so firefighters can enter burning buildings safely to perform search and rescues.
In May, Coombs graduated from college and was hired by the Rumford Fire Department, where he now works. Dyer presented a new fire helmet for Coombs to wear at his new post from the Otisfield Fire Association.
“We bought this for him in thanks and recognition for what he’s done for us,” Dyer said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.